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Today's Featured Biography

Jacqueline Jarrell Ellison

Kaleel (AJHS class of 1951) and I married Dec. 1956 and recently celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Our first child, Dan, was born in May 1958. Kaleel had begun college to prepare for the ministry prior to our marriage. After completing his first semester, he postponed returning to college until Jan. 1959 when we moved, as a family, to Chattanooga, TN to continue with his college education. He graduated in 1963 from Tennessee Temple University with a double major in Bible and English. I got my PHT (Put Hubby Through)degree. We moved to Dallas, TX where he attended Dallas Theological Seminary. He was taking 19 hours including Greek and Hebrew. Both he and I were working and rearing a growing family. We returned to Jacksonville summer 1964 and three weeks later a third child (Jonathan) was born. Kaleel returned to Barnett Bank while checking on available pastoral positions. In Nov. 1964, he was called to pastor Corinth Baptist Church in Jacksonville where we served for 11 years. While pastoring, he served on the board of the City Rescue Mission and on two occasions filled in as interim director. It was during the second interim, God opened the door to serve full time as the executive director of the City Rescue Mission. We were privileged to serve there from 1976 through 1993. God then opened the door to another rescue ministry in Reno, NV where we served from mid-1994 to mid 2005 when we retired. I was co-executive director with him. We were blessed to see God change lives of men and women once bound by their addictions to alcohol and/or other drugs to become productive and victorious through our 13-month Bible-based, Christ-centered residential recovery programs. The enrollment averaged 80-95 men and women. We developed and refined the program that included biblical and spiritual growth, instilled good work ethics, taught lifeskills, basic computer skills and offered opportunities for clients to get their GED and skilled job training through the local community schools. While our focus was on recovery, we also provided emergency shelter and meals for single men and women as well as women with children. Another blessing in Rescue ministry was being a part of an international organization, the AGRM (Association of Gospel Rescue Missions)formerly IUGM (International Union of Gospel Missions). Kaleel and I served in leadership positions on the district level and on the international level. He served two, two-year terms as president (1991-1995). We've had the privilege of visiting almost 100 rescue ministries in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In 2006 at the 93rd annual convention of the AGRM, we were named to the Honor Roll for exemplary service having served 30-years in Rescue Ministry. In 1998, Kaleel and I were awarded honorary doctor degrees by the Salt Lake Baptist College for having served more than 30-years in ministry. Kaleel received a Doctor of Theology Degree and I a Doctor of Christian Ministries Degree.

We returned to the Jacksonville area April 2006 after serving in Reno, NV for 12 years. It is good to be back and close to most of our family, including my 89-year-old mother who resides near Keystone Heights. Our three sons and two daughters have given us 13 wonderful grandchildren and #14 is expected this coming November.

We make frequent trips to Mayo Clinic as Kaleel has some health issues including the fact that he suffered a major stroke in 2001 which has left his entire right side weak. A recent addition of a Hoveround (motorized wheelchair)for Kaleel has made it easier for both of us in the home. He does use a manual wheelchair for church, grocery shopping, etc. I enjoy tending flowers in our yard, being a homemaker, staying up on local, national and world news, listening to music from our collection of records, tapes and CDs and writing poems for family members and friends on their birthdays and special occasions. We both enjoy loving on our grandchildren and babysitting them on occasion. We are also glad to be able to attend services at First Baptist Church Downtown where our daughter, Denise is the accompanist for the choir and orchestra.

I/We are looking forward to the 50th anniversary Class Reunion as the 35th one was our last to attend.

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